Vaxart Gains Slightly on Data Release Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) saw its shares grow mildly positive first thing Thursday, on reporting positive preliminary data from its recently completed Phase 1b trial of its oral vaccine candidate in subjects aged 55 – 80 years.
Results of the trial show a robust immune response across all doses, with a dose-dependent production of IgA antibody secreting cells (ASCs), consistent with previous studies conducted in younger populations. The results also demonstrate that the vaccine candidate was well tolerated with a favorable safety profile.
These data support the continued development of Vaxart’s oral norovirus vaccine candidate in adult populations, including elderly adults, and add to the growing body of evidence supporting its clinical utility. Vaxart is conducting a Phase 2 clinical challenge study of its norovirus vaccine candidate in adult volunteers.
Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis that produces vomiting and diarrhea among people of all ages. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee has identified norovirus as a priority disease for vaccine development.
The virus causes up to 21 million cases, 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths annually in the United States. Adults over the age of 65 years are especially vulnerable to norovirus infection, with 7.5% of this population infected annually. Norovirus also has a negative health economic impact, which has been estimated to cost $10.6 billion annually in the United States alone.
VXRT shares collected two cents early Thursday to $3.47.
